Bottle testing apparatus



March 16, 1943. s JACKSON ET AL 2,314,310

BOTTLE TESTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS .A. 5. :Lacxsou CAHEYME. W

ATTO EYS March 16, 1943. I A. s. JACKSON ET AL BOTTLE TESTING APPARATUS 7 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1940 INVENTORS 1L5. zlemsozv LAHEYAM my? ATTOR EYS March 16, 1943.

A. s. JACKSON ETAL BOTTLE TESTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3' '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Asflncxsou tZAHEYNE ATTOR EYS March 16, 1943. A. s. JACKSON ETAL BOTTLE TESTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 Illlll March 16, 1943.

A. S. JACKSON ET AL BOTTLE TEST ING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS A5. v71 arson Ilka ATT NEYS A. S. JACKSON ET AL BOTTLE TEST ING APPARATUS March 16, 1943.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 16, 1940 March 16, 1943. A. s. JACKSON ET AL 2,314,310

BOTTLE TESTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 HEAD LOWERS JAWS GRIP NECK HEAD RAISED JAWS OPEN TO Runs: soon BOTTLES HEAD DOWN PRESSURE ON LATCH TRPPEB HEAD LOVERS LATCH TRIPPED ON GOQD BOTTLES I HEAD R SES JAWS OPEN TO RE LEASE BRDKEN JAWS GR\P NECK LATcH nova; 05w

HEAD LOWERED GOODHOTTLIS un-cu suvs m Bum mrun-ln INVENTORS 11.5.JAc-K50N. C.A.HEYNE ATTOR EYS Patented Mar. 16, 1943 Albert S. Jackson, Wood River, and

Clarence A.

Hcyne, Alton, 111., assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company,

a corporation of Ohio Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 352,916

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to apparatus for testing the strength of bottles, jars and other hollow articles by the application of hydraulic pressure to the interior of the articles. The invention further includes means for automatically segregating and discarding defective ware.

An object of the invention is to provide reliable and practical testing apparatus by which a predetermined degree of hydraulic pressure may be applied within the articles for a definite predetermined length of time.

The invention as herein illustrated is adapted for testing bottles. As a practical example, such apparatus is used for testing bottles having comparatively thin walls, an internal pressure of 140 lbs. per square inch more or less being applied for a period of eight or ten seconds. When used in this manner the apparatus serves automatically to eliminate-practically all bottles which are defective owing to seeds, surface scratches, thin spots, poor distribution of the glass or any other defects which weaken the bottle so that it will not withstand the applied pressure. The above example is not to be taken as a limitation or indication of the scope of the invention which is adaptable for use in testing a wide variety of ware and under widely varying conditions.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a testing apparatus embodying the principles of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken at the line 3-3 on Fig. 2 illustrating the cam mechanism; Fig. 4 is a vertical section at the line 4-4 on Fig. 1, on a comparatively large scale, showing a pressure head or unit; 4

Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5--5 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, looking in a direction at right angles thereto;

Fig. 7 is a section at the line 'I-'l on Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a section at the line 8-8 on Fig.- 4;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section at the line 9-9 on Fig. 7, showing a portion of the air pressure line;

Fig. 10 is a section at the line lll-l0 on Fig. 8 showing the bellows and a latch bar controlled thereby;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the parts in a different relative position;

Figs. 12 to 15 inclusiv are sectional views, partly diagrammatic, illustrating successive steps in the operation of the apparatus and show the operation as applied to a perfect bottle;

Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate the operation when the bottle is defective and unable to withstand the pressure;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view of the operating cams; and

Fig. 19 is a chart showing a development of the main cam and the sequence of operations controlled thereby.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the testing apparatus is mounted on a framework 20 which supports a platform 2|. A testing head or unit 22 comprises a cylinder 23 supported by the platform 2| and a composite plunger or piston 24 (Figs. 4 and 5) which has reciprocating movement within the cylinder. The cylinder 23 is formed at the upper end thereof with a flange portion or head 25 which seats on the platform 2| The cylinder is held in position by posts 26 rising from the platform and fitting in split hearing sleeves 21 formed on the head 25 and secured to the posts by clamping bolts 21 (Fig. 2).

The plunger 24 includes sections 30, 3|, 32, 33 and 34 arranged one above another and connected to move up and down as a unit. Means for connecting the sections 30 and 3| includes a bolt 35, the construction being such that it permits a limited relative up and down movement of said sections. A heavy coil spring 36 held under compression between said sections serves as a cushioning means to prevent a crushing pressure being applied to the lip of the bottle when the plunger is lowered. The sections 3| and 32 are clamped together by screw bolts 31 (Fig. 5). A diaphragm 38 of flexibl impervious material, such as rubber, is clamped between the sections 3| and 32,. The upper surface of the section 32 is concave as shown to provide a space or chamber 39 between the diaphragm and said section. Said chamber 39 forms part of a sealed hydraulic system within the plunger mechanism as hereinafter described. The lower face of the section 3| is recessed to provide an air space 40 above the diaphragm.

The sections 32 and 33 are connected by bolts 4| with a flexible diaphragm 42 of rubber or the like clamped therebetween. The lower side of the section 32 is recessed to form a chamber 43 which is in communication with th chamber 39 through a series of openings 44. A plunger rod 45 is clamped to the diaphragm 42 which provides a yielding connection between the plunger and said rod. A disk 46 mounted on the plunger rod seats on a shoulder formed on said rod and provides a backing for the diaphragm 42.

Attached to the plunger rod at the lower end thereof is a membrane 41 inthe form of a bulb or sack and which may consist of rubber or other impervious, elastic sheet material. The upper portion of the said sack surrounds the lowerend portion of the rod 45, the upper end of the sack being formed with a horizontal rim 48 which is clamped between a flange portion of the plunger rod and a ring 49, by means of bolts 58. Mounted in the lower face of the ring 49 is a rubber sealing gasket 5| adapted to seat on the upper end of the bottle 52 which is to be tested. The gasket 5| and membrane 41 provide a hermetic seal for the bottle. The membrane forms a diaphragm through which. hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the liquid in the bottle as hereinafter described.

The plunger rod 45 is formed with a bore extending throughout its length and opening at its upper end into the chamber 43 and at its lower end communicating with the interior of the bulb 41. It will be seen that the construction above described provides an inner sealed space or system comprising the chambers 39 and 43, the channel through the plunger rod, and the bulb 41. Said space is filled with water, oil or other liquid. Attached to the lower end of the plunger rod 45 is a stem 53 extending downward within the bulb 41 and formed at its lower end with a horizontal disk, thereby providing an interior support for the bulb. Surrounding the bulb is a cylindrical shield 54 open at its lower end and provided with openings 55 in the side walls thereof.

The cylinder 28 is formed at its lower end with an integral section 55 of reduced diameter (see Figs. 4 and 12) having an annular horizontal top surface 51 providing a stop to limit downward movement of the plunger. The section 94 of the plunger seats on the flange portion of the plunger rod 45, said section comprising a head portion 58 which is normally spaced a short distance above the surface 51 while the piston is in its lowered position.

A pair of bottle gripping jaws 58 (see Figs. 4, 12, 15) is pivotally connected by pins 8| to the section 56 of the cylinder. Means for swinging the jaws about their pivots includes links 82, each connected at its lower end to the jaw by a pivot 53 and at its upper end connected by a pivot 84 to a vertical slide member 55. Each of said slide members (Figs. 4 and 8) comprises a pair of parallel bars mounted for up and down movement in guideways 99 formed in an enlarged portion 51 of the cylinder 23. The bars of each of said pairs are connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 55'- (Figs. 4 and 7-). Vertical rods 69 are screw-threaded at their lower ends into the cross-bars 85 and have mounted thereon coil springs 18 held under compression between said cross-bars and the head 25 of the cylinder. The rods 89 are movable up and down in openings 1| provided in the head 25.

The plunger 24 is movable up and down in the cylinder 23 for lifting and lowering the clamping jaws and also for swinging them about their pivots in the manner hereinafter set forth. The lifting and lowering movements of the plunger are effected through mechanism including a horizontal rack bar 12 (Figs. 1, 4 and-5) which reciprocates in a supporting frame 18 mounted on the platform 2|. A plate 14 extending lengthwise of the rack bar is attached thereto by bolts 15 extending through elongated slots in said plate. The rack engages a segmental gear 18 on a pivot pin 11 mounted in a pair of bearing plates 18 attached by bolts 18 to the upper end of the cylinder 23. A link 19 is connected by a pivot 88 to the gear segment and by a pivot pin 8I to the plunger section 38.

The reciprocating movements of the rack 12 are under the control of a horizontally disposed cam 82 keyed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 88 Journalled in the machine frame. The lower end of the shaft carries a beveled gear 84 driven by a pinion 85 having driving connections, which may include a sprocket wheel and chain 88, with an electric motor or source of power (not shown) by which the cam 82 is rotated continuously. A cam follower roll 81 (Figs. 1, 2, 3) on the rack bar provides a driving connection between the cam and rack bar. A coil spring 88 anchored at one end to a bracket 89 on the machine frame and connected at its other end to the slide bar, holds the roll 81 in engagement with the cam.

Means for supporting a bottle beneath the testing head includes a bottom plate 98 (Fig. 1) carried on one end of a horizontal arm 9|, the other end of which is pivoted at 92 to a lower platform 93 on the machine frame. The plate 98 is periodically moved up and down for the purpose hereinafter set forth, the downward movement being effected by a cam patch 94 on the under surface of the cam plate 82, and the upward movement by a coil spring 95.

Air or other operating gas or fluid under pressure is periodically transmitted to the pressure head from a source of supply (not shown) under the control of a valve 98 (Fig. 1) in a pressure line 91. The valve is actuated by a cam 98 on the shaft 83. The pressure line includes a flexible hose or pipe 99 which leads to the piston and opens into the chamber 48 in the section 8| (see Figs. 5, '7, 9). The application of pressure is timed to be applied immediately after a bottle 52, filled with water, is gripped by the jaws 88. This pressure within the chamber 48 is transmitted through the diaphragm 38 to the sealedhydraulic system which is filled with liquid and thereby applies pressure through the bulb 41 to the interior of the bottle which is at this time full of liquid and sealed by the gasket 5 I.

The jaws 88 are locked in bottle gripping position during the testing operation by a pair of locking yokes I88 (Figs. 5 and 6) which embrace lugs IN on the Jaws. Said yokes are mounted for sliding movement up and down on rods I82 attached to the plunger section 84. Coil springs I83 mounted on said rods, and held under compression between the plunger and the yokes, hold said yokes in locking position while the bottle is suspended by said jaws as hereinafter described. When the plunger is drawn upwardly a suflicient distance to open the jaws, the locking yokes I88 are positively lifted by heads I84 on the rods I82 and disengage the jaws in time to permit the latter to open.

In operating connection between the plunger and the Jaws for opening the latter is effected by means of a latch bar I extending horizontally through the plunger and adapted for a limited lengthwise reciprocating movement therein. As the plunger is drawn upward, the bar I85 engages the cross-bars 55 so that continued upward movement of the plunger carries the cross-bars upward with the plunger, compressing the springs 18. The vertical slide members 85, being connected to the cross-bars are thus moved upwardly and through the links 02, (see Figs. 4, 12, 15) swing the jaws 60 outwardly and upwardly about their pivots BI thereby releasing the bottle. When the plunger is again lowered the springs I operate through the crossbars 65', slide members 65 and links 62 to swing the jaws 00 to their closed or bottle gripping position. The jaws are arrested in their inward or bottle gripping position by engagement of the jaws with the lower end portion of the section 56 of the cylinder. The laws are thus accurately positioned and held in bottle gripping position under the pressure of the springs I0.

The bar I not only serves. as a means for lifting the cross-bars 65 for opening the jaws, but also forms part of mechanism for automatically segregating broken bottles and discharging them at a different position from that at which the sound bottles are discharged. Such mechanism will now be described.

The bar I05 has mounted therein a coil spring I05 held under compression and tending to move the bar to the right. The bar I05 is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 8, providing a pair of arms I0'I which straddle the plunger rod 45. A stop block I08 secured between the outer ends of said arms engages a stop pin I09, thereby limiting the movement of the bar I05 to the right. The bar is formed with notches or recesses H0 and III on the upper surface thereof at opposite sides of the plunger. As shown in Fig. 4, these notches are in vertical line with thecross-bars 55 so that when the plunger is lifted, said cross-bars enter the notches (see Figs. 14 and This takes place in the normal operation when a sound bottle is being tested. It will be noted that opening of the jaws does not commence until the latch bar I05 has been lifted to a position in which the cross-bars I55 have entered said notches.

In case of a defective bottle which breaks during the test, the latch bar I05 is held locked in g a position in which the notches IIO, III are not in line with the bar 65*. This position is indicated in Figs. 16 and 17. Means for moving the latch bar I 05 to the left and locking it in such position includes a vertically disposed rock arm IIZ (Figs. 1 and 4) fixed to and depending from one end of a horizontal rock shaft H3, the latter journalled in the machine frame. Contact screws H4 and H5 adjustably mounted in the rock arm are arranged to engage the bar I05 while the latter is in a lowered position and an intermediate position respectively. The shaft H3 has keyed to its opposite end a vertical rock arm I I6 (Figs. 1 and 3) carrying a cam roll which runs on a cam disk II! on the shaft 83. The

cam disk is formed with cam lobes Ill and II'l which operate to rock the arm II! to the left (Fig. 4), thereby moving the bar I05 to the left against the tension of its spring, carrying the notches H0 and I II out of register with the cross-bars 05.

The cam is timed to eifect'this operation after a bottle has been gripped by the jaws and pressure applied therein. The cam lobes permit the rock arm II2 toreturn immediately after it has moved the bar I05 to the left. If there is pressure within the. bottle that is being tested, the bar I05 is also returned to the Fig. 4 position by its spring 'I06. If the bottle under test is defective so that it breaks, dissipating the pressure therein, the latch bar I05 is locked in its operated position by means presently to be described, so that when the plunger is lifted, the

latch bar contacts the cross-bars 05" without the latter entering the notches IIO, III. As a result the jaws are opened comparatively early during the upward movement of the plunger. This permits discharge of the broken bottle to a cullet chute or other means brought momentarily into receiving position for receiving it from the opening jaws and separating it from the sound bottles.

The locking means for the latch bar I05 includes a locking bar or member IIO (see Figs. 4, 10 and 11) mounted in the section 34 of the plunger beneath the arms I01. The member III is adapted for a limited up and down movement to the plunger and when there is no hydraulic pressure within the system is held in its upward position by a pair of coil springs IIO which are mounted on rods I20 and held under compression between the member III and the plunger section 34. A bellows I2I interposed between the plunger section 33 and the locking member H8 is operable by hydraulic pressure to lower the member H0. The bellows communicates with the pressure chamber 43 through a conduit I22 (Fig. 4). Y

The arms I01 of the latch bar I05 are formed with notches I23 (see Figs. 8, 11, 13) in their lower surface which are brought into register with the locking bar IIO when said latch bar is moved to the left as above described. If there is hydraulic pressure within the system at the time the bar I05 is actuated by the cam III. the locking bar H8 is held in its lowered position, permitting the return of the bar I05. If a broken bottle has dissipated the pressure the bellows III is ineffective so that when the bar I05 is. moved to the left (Fig. 16), the locking bar H8 is lifted by its springs II9 into the notches I23 and locks the bar I05, preventing its return movement.

The operation of the machine may be summarized as follows: The cam 02 is rotated continuously and operates through the rack 12 and gear I6 to move the plunger 24 up and down periodically. When the plunger is in its lowered position the jaws 00 are closed around the bottle being tested. While the plunger is being drawn upward, the latcli'bar I05 engages and lifts the bars I55 when the plunger reaches an intermediate position and thereby opens the jaws. releasing the bottle which has been tested. While the jaws are open and in their lifted position, the next bottle, filled with liquid, is placed on the bottom plate 00 (Fig. 1). The cam 94 then operates to lift the bottle into position to be gripped by the jaws 60 when the plunger is moved downward and the jaws close. When thebottle is thus gripped. the bottom plate is lowered by its cam, leaving the bottle suspended from said jaws. Continued downward movement of the plunger after the jaws have closed around the bottle projects the bulb 41 and its surrounding shield 54 downwardly within the bottle neck, thereby displacing a certain amount of liquid. This insures the bottle being entirely full when the sealing gasket 5| seats on the bottle as the plunger completes its downward movement.

The air control valve 96 (Fig. 1) is now opened by thecam 08 to admit air pressure to the chamber 40 in the plunger. This pressure is transmitted through the diaphragm 38 to the hydraulic system including the bulb 41 and through the latter to the liquid in the bottle. If the bottle is sound and withstands the pressure.

the open mouth oi a container filled with a liquid, said gasket having an opening therethrough, a diaphragm of impervious material, a closed hydraulic system comprising means providing a space filled with a liquid, said diaphragm torming a dividing wall between the liquid in said Referring to sign-1a and 19, the lowerin oi the plunger takes place while the section 8.2 of the cam 82 traverses the roll 81. While the next section 82 01' the cam is traversingsaid roll, the plunger remains down and the. pressure I is maintained. The cam lobe Ill". also operates at this time to rock the arm I and move the latch bar In inward. 'I'helatch bariis imme-j diately returned if there is pressure in .the 8Y5.-

space and the liquid within the container, and means to apply a predetermined pressure to the liquid in said system.-

4. Apparatus for testing bottles comprising a sealing gasket, means for sealing the asket on the open mouth 01' a container filled with a liquid, said gasket having an opening therethrough, a diaphragm oi impervious material,

a closed hydraulic system'comprising a chamber filled with liquid, said diaphragm forming tem but is latched by the locking barll s 1: the. bottle under test has been broken. .The section 12 of the cam moves the plunger upward to an intermediate position in which the latch bar I" is brought into engagement with the crossbars 5. If the bottle under test has been broa wall portion of said system and separating it from the liquid in the container, a second .diaphragm forming a wall of said chamber, and

.means for applying pneumatic pressure to said second diaphragm and thereby transmitting the ken so that the locking bar II. is operativeto hold the latch bar III, the jaws II will be opened pressure to saidhydraulic system.

5. Apparatus for testing hollow articles, com- .sprising means for gripping the article, a plunger,

an impervious diaphragm carried by the plunger,

, means for reciprocating the plunger and causing the diaphragm to enter the open mouth of said article, means cooperating with the diaphragm to seal the mouth of the article while the latter is filled with a liquid, and means for applying hydraulic pressure through the plungand the cam lobe 'H'l now operatestomove.

the latch bar inward. If the pressure has been maintained in the bottle, the latch bar is immediately returned. If the pressure has been dissipated, the latch bar'is held in by the locking bar ill. The cam section I! operates to lift, the plunger the remainder oi its upstroke so that the jaws are opened during the final upward movement and the bottle released. 11. the bottle under test has given way after the-section I!" er to the diaphragm and thereby transmitting pressure through the diaphragm to the liquid within the container. 6. Apparatus for testing bottles and similar articles, comprising gripping jaws for gripping 'the neck-of an-article, a p1unger,'a bulb of imof the cam has passed the cam roll so that the latch bar has been locked as lust described, .then the jaws will be opened before thegplunger has reached the limit of .its upward movement.

In order to segregate the. defective or broken bottles from the sound ones, a chute v l2! (Fig.

16) may be brought into position to- .catch ,.the

portion of the article, which is broken. oil.- "A

second chute I! may be positioned to catch the remainder of the broken bottle which is,

released by the opening of the .jaws. These chutes are brought into position by a-movement.

1. Testing apparatusior space including a passageway leading through means. for actuating the plunger and projecting saidbulb into the neck of the article, a gasket carried by the plunger and brought into position to seal the mouth of the article when the plunger is actuated, and means for applying hydraulic pressure within said bulb when the mouth of the article is sealed.

'1. Apparatus for testing bottles, comprising gripping jaws i'or gripping the neck of a bottle, a plunger, a. bulb of impervious, elastic material carried by thezplunger, means for actuating the .fplungerand projecting said bulb into the neck of the bottle, a hydraulic system providing a sealed space a liquid filling said space, said the plunger to said bulb, and means for applying pressure to said sealed liquid and causing a pressure to be transmitted through the bulb to the pressure'within an open-mouthed hollow article, I

which comprises an impervious. elastic] bulb, means for introducing said bulb .into-the article,

means for sealingthe mouth of.the article while.

the latter is filled with a liquid-,1 and means. for"- applying a predetermined -pressuresw1thi1ithe.

bulb and thereby pressure through the liquid to the walls col-the article.

2. Testing apparatus roiapplying internal pressure within an open-mouthedhollow'article, which comprisesan impervious 'elastic 'bulb..

meansfor introducing said bulbi to the article; means for sealing the mouth oi. the article while the latter is filled with a liquidrand means {101' applying hydraulic pressurewithin said-bulb."

3. Apparatus for testing bottles comp'r'isingainterior oi the bottle.

1 8.'Bottle testing apparatus comprising a pair of gripping jaws, means for actuating said jaws '"i'or gripping a bottle to be tested and for .releasing the.bottle,-means for applying'an inter- .Yiial pressure-.jto .thq bbttle while held by Said Jjaws, and mechanism jeontrolled by pressure de- .lveloped .within the'bottle" to efl'ect an opening 10! thejaws at apredetermined timeii the pressure. hasibeen' dissipated by breaking or the bottle I and preventing the-.openingofthe jaws at said time it the pressure in the bottle has beenmaintainedi -i g I H 9; Bottle testing apparatus comprising means for gripping a bo t e. means for..- applying, inter- "nal hydraulic pressure to the bottle while held by the gripping means, apparatus for actuating the gripping means and pressure applying means .by a predetermined cycleiof operations, and

means controlled by pressure developed within the bottle for causing the release of the gripping means at a predetermined time during said cycle when the bottle is sound and the pressure therein normally maintained and for releasing the gripping means at a different time during said cycle when the pressure has been dissipated through imperfection or breakage of the bottle.

10. Apparatus for testing bottles comprising a pair of gripping jaws for gripping a bottle to be tested, a plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger toward and from the gripping jaws and a bottle gripped thereby, means carried by the plunger for sealing the bottle, means for applying pressure through the plunger to the interior of the bottle, a bar carried by the plunger, and means in the path of said bar and operated positively thereby for opening the gripping jaws when the plunger is moved away from the bottle.

11. Apparatus for testing bottles comprising a pair of gripping jaws for gripping a bottle to be tested, a plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger toward and from the bottle, means carv ried by the plunger for sealing'the bottle, means for applying pressure through the plunger to the interior of the bottle, means actuated by the plunger for opening the gripping jaws when the plunger is moved away from the bottle, andselective means controlling the time at which the bottle is released during the movement of the plunger, said selective means including apparatus controlled by the pressure within the bottle and operable to efiect a release of the bottle at a predetermined point during the movement of the plunger if pressure is maintained within the bottle and ata difierent point if the pressure has been dissipated.

12. Bottle testing apparatus comprising a pair of gripping jaws for gripping a bottle, a plunger movable toward and from the bottle, means for actuating the plunger, means carried by the plunger for sealing the bottle, means for applying pressure through the plunger to the interior of the sealed bottle, means actuated by the plunger when it is withdrawn to a predetermined point to open the gripping jaws and release the bottle it the pressure therein has been dissipated, and means controlled by pressure within the bottle for automatically preventing release of the gripping jaws when the plunger reaches said point if the pressure has been maintainedwithin the bottle.

13. Bottle testing apparatus comprising a pair of gripping jaws for gripping a bottle, a plunger movable toward and from the bottle, means for actuating the plunger, means carried by the plunger for sealing the bottle, means for applying pressure through the plunger tot he interior of the sealed bottle, a latch bar carried by the plunger, a lock for the latch bar, said latch bar providing an operating connection between the plunger and the gripping jaws and operable to open the jaws when the plunger is withdrawn to a predetermined position, and means operated by pressure within the container to lock the latch bar in an inoperative position.

14. Bottle testing apparatus comprising bottle gripping means, a plunger, a cam, means for continuously rotating the cam, operating connections between the cam and plunger for reciprocating the latter toward and from a bottle held by said gripping means, means carried by the plunger for sealing the bottle, means for applying hydraulic pressure through the plunger to the interior of the sealed bottle, and automatic means controlled by the pressure within the bottle for effecting a releaseof the gripping jaws from the bottle at a predetermined point during the movement of the plunger away from the bottle when the pressure has been dissipated through breakage of the bottle, and for effecting an opening of the jaws at a different point during the withdrawal of the plunger when the pressure has been maintained within the bottle.

15. Apparatus for testing bottles comprising a bulb of flexible, impervious material, a shield surrounding the bulb, means for projecting said shield and bulb into the neck of a bottle, a sealing gasket surrounding said shield and sealin the mouth of the bottle, and means for ap lying hydraulic pressure within said bulb.

16. Bottle testing apparatus comprising a pair of gripping jaws, a plunger, means for reciprocating the plunger, means for actuating the jaws, a latch bar carried by the plunger and providing an operating connection between the plunger and the means for actuating said jaws, means for applying hydraulic pressure to the interior of a bottle held by said jaws, a locking bar operable to lock the latch bar in a predetermined position, and a bellows operated by hydraulic pressure for holding the locking bar in an inoperative position.

17. Bottle testing apparatus comprising a plunger, supporting means on which the plunger is mounted for reciprocating movements, a bulb of elastic impervious material carried by the plunger, a tubular shield surrounding the bulb and carried by the plunger, means for gripping a bottle and holding it in a predetermined position relative to said supporting means, and means for actuating the plunger and projecting said shield and bulb into the neck of the bottle.

ALBERT S. JACKSON. CLARENCE A. HEYNE. 

